So the issue is you just don’t believe it when someone says they’ve been harassed? Is that ultimately what this comes down to? Addressing a few of your points:
Keep in mind that the article didn’t address an individual business or area where this is prevalent
Yes, it does. Right there in the headline: “Want more women in tech?” (emphasis mine). Your point that the author should have cited studies is valid. Here’s one that addresses exactly what we’re talking about:
Certainly there are many others; this was found with a quick google search. (Above link is a quick summary; fuller details are linked within).
You need to separate between “getting hit on” and “lewd comments.”
Okay fine. Take out getting hit on. That leaves unwanted advances and lewd comments, for which we have to ask the question:
How prevalent is it, in reality, not the presumed reality?
Are we to assume that your presumed reality is more valid than the presumed reality of the original author, or the women who shared stories? That’s really the key point here. Your instinct is to believe your own assumptions, but when someone is telling you those assumptions are wrong, you’re dismissing them because you haven’t had the same experience.
Are men there to be ogled, then?
Of course not! Like women, they too are there to work. And yes, to hopefully spend time with people they like, if the company has built a nice culture. The author’s point is that many tech companies have built a seemingly friendly culture, but when you look closer, it’s not really friendly to (a lot of) women.
I have yet to see the proof, other than “women said so,”
Aside reading the study I linked above, I encourage you to put yourself in a victim’s shoes. (In this scenario, I’m assuming you are a straight male. Apologies if not): Imagine you work at a company, and that company happens to employ mostly gay males. Maybe it’s Grindr. (I have no clue of the demographics of that company, but work with me). When you interviewed there, you were asked if you were single. Might that make you think that the interviewer was looking for a date rather than an employee? Another one of your (gay male) superiors (or colleagues) always seems to find a reason to touch you (an oddly placed hug, a hand on the shoulder, etc). And that same guy says he’d pay more attention to your presentation if you unbuttoned your shirt. Would that make you feel good about where you worked? Sure, you could find another job, but why should you have to be the one who leaves when he’s the one being inappropriate? So you go to HR to file a complaint. But the response you get is “Oh just toughen up. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. He’s just being friendly! He’s just joking!” At the same time, you’re passed up for that promotion because you’ve been labeled as a troublemaker.
This is a situation many women in tech find themselves in. The study says so, and personal anecdotes say so. No doubt — it happens to men too. And when it does they should speak up about it. But safe to say it happens way more often to women. And as a result, they leave the industry. Changing the culture is the way to keep a diverse workforce.
Lastly, on the term, “feminism”. I agree that it has a brand problem, and some have misconstrued its meaning. But there’s good ol’ google to keep us grounded:
Feminism deals specifically with gender equality, whereas those other terms do not. Just because you believe women should be equal to men does not make you a socialist, or egalitarian, or humanist. It does, however, make you a feminist.
